The document provides an analysis of the poster for the film "Scream 4". It summarizes the key design elements of the poster including the typography, image, colors, and layout. The typography uses a sans-serif font targeting a younger audience, with a large bold font size. The image shows the iconic Scream mask with an elongated knife. The colors of black, red, and white are used to connote mystery, terror, and blood. The layout places the central image at the top to draw attention. Overall, the poster employs common horror film conventions in its design.

1. Ancillary products
Typography:
The font used in this poster is san-serif this is a
youthful font which shows they are targeting a
younger audience which is the conventional
target audience for a horror film. The actual
font is of a big size to attract attention to the
film, so people know what it is called and
understands the brand. The font used says
“SCRE4M” the use of a 4 signifies that this is
the fourth film to be released and the use of
the M being jaggered at the end shows that it’s
meant to be shaped like a knife and connotes
the terror inside the film and gives the font
more of a horror effect.
Image:
They have used a close up for the image of the poster, they have used this so the viewer can
clearly see the mask of the character and what the image is, because it is in the centre it
draws the most attention as it’s dead central. The actual image used is the conventional
screams mask which elongates into a knife at the end. This signifies that the person behind
the mask is a killer and uses this weapon for his crime; this creates a mysterious effect for
the poster and entices people to watch it. The use of the mask is conventional to the horror
genre as it hides the murderer’s identity and creates a more horrific effect.
Colour:
In the poster they have used black, red and white; the black connotes mystery, evil and
death these signify what the viewer could expect in the film and it also helps the image
stand out and draw people’s attention towards the poster. The colour white connotes a new
beginning which signifies the idea linked with the film that it’s a “new decade”. The colour
white also helps emphasise the mask and make the image look chilling as its right in your
face. The white helps the texts stand out in front of the black creating a contrast for the
colours so that the text is bold and easily readable. The red connotes anger, power and
energy. This signifies the film is going to be energetic from start to finish and keep the
viewer in their seats. It also helps the 4 stand out boldly in front of the text and create a
blood effect which makes the text look conventional for a horror film.

2. Layout:
The image is in the central is it’s the most important part of the poster, it’s use of being in
the centre helps emphasise the poster and draw viewers to the poster which creates brand
awareness. The text at the bottom is in bold with a lot of space so that it’s a big size to
attract viewers to the posters. The use of the smaller text at the top helps reveal where they
are in the film (a new decade) the use of it being at the top is that it’s not as important as
the film name and image so it requires a smaller size.
Conventions of form and genre:
The conventions of genre:
This poster is conventional to the horror genre because the character on the front has a
knife attached to his mask which is conventional to the genre because horror films have
masks to make the villains more mysterious and horrific and the use of a weapon in the
poster is also conventional as most villains wield weapons to spark terror in their victims.
The use of colours is also conventional as they signify aggression and mystery which is the
conventional colours for a horror film.
Conventions of form:
They have used an image which relates to the film is conventional for a film poster, the use
of the film name and tagline are also conventional parts for a poster and signify what the
film is called and what the location is. The use of the date used in the poster identifies when
the film is released and the use of the studios being shown shows that produced the film.

3. Typography:
They have used a serif font this is because the film is
meant to look like it’s set in previous years, the use of
the serif font helps create a less modern effect and
more of an older more historic effect. They have used
a large size font to help generate a bold title which
will attract people to the poster and so they can
identify the film name. The use of the smaller text
across the top stating “from the director of Saw and
Insidious” reveals to the audience it is a similar film to
saw and insidious which draw people to watch it as
they want to see if it relates to these type of films.
Image:
They have used women in a rocking chair holding a small doll, this reveals that the doll may
be the haunted character and the other characters are blissfully unaware of this which
creates a chilling effect. The use of the doll creates a creepier of effect and signifies that a
childish element may be applied in the film as they are linked with children. They have used
a wide shot so you can see the whole of the image and see the whole of the image, the
image is positioned in the centre again so it draws attention to the film. The use of the doll
looking towards the viewer and the women looking forwards shows the doll has a mind of
its own which creates a creepy effect.
Colour:
They have used dark colours such as black and brown which signifies the old setting and also
makes the image look threatening as its dark and connotes the evil in the film. The use of
the white font helps make the writing bold in front of the dark colours and creates a clear
contrast between the 2 colours to emphasise the film name and the text around the poster.
The doll is dressed in white so that she stands out in front of the dark colours and so she
catches the viewers’ attention which creates a chilling effect as dolls create a childish creepy
effect.

4. Layout:
The use of the women in the chair and the doll in the centre creates an effect of isolation
and signifies that they are on their own and creates a horrific effect as there is no one
around which connotes they are in trouble. They have also followed the route of eye
approach which starts from the tagline and then it goes across the picture and then across
the bottom text. This is conventional for a poster as it shows where the viewer will read
first.
Conventions of form and genre:
Conventions of genre:
They have used a doll which is a conventional prop for a horror film as they create a creepy
effect and create more horror in the film; they have also used conventional horror colours in
their posters to create a better effect. They have used a contrast of dark and white colours
to help make the text stand out and create a feel of evil and isolation to their viewers.
Conventions of form:
They have used a tagline at the top which is conventional for a poster as it’s a sentence
about what the film is about. They have also used an image which relates to the film which
is also conventional for a poster. They have also used text at the bottom which displays the
studios, the release date and the film name which is again conventional items for a poster to
have to achieve maximum awareness.